Method for producing free-flowing, water-soluble polymer gels

ABSTRACT

The instant invention is directed to a method for preparing free-flowing, water-soluble polymer gels comprising: 
     (a) reducing the size of water-soluble polymer gels by a size-reduction means, so as to produce polymer gel particles which are less than 1/2 inch in their longest dimension; and 
     (b) adding to the size-reduced polymer gels of Step (a) 0.001 to 20 percent, by weight, of an amphipathic compound, thereby reducing the adhesion of said gel particles to themselves and other substances.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 011,578, filed Feb. 6, 1987, now abandoned and which is a division of application Ser. No. 722,050, filed Apr. 11, 1985, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,964, which is a division of appliation Ser. No. 562,303, filed Dec. 16, 1983, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,509.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method for preparing free-flowing, water-soluble polymer gels and to the unique products thus obtained. More particularly, this invention relates to a method wherein a small quantity of an amphipathic compound is added to a water-soluble cationic, anionic, non-ionic or amphoteric polymer gel, thereby reducing the adhesiveness of the gel to itself and to other substances. This reduced adhesiveness allows the polymers of the instant invention to be stored in free-flowing form for long periods of time.

Water-soluble polymers can be prepared in several forms. For instance, it is known in the art that water-soluble polymers can be prepared in the dispersed phase of water-in-oil emulsions. These polymers are then generally sold as water-in-oil emulsions which contain 25 to 50 percent by weight polymer solids and an inverting surfactant. water-soluble polymers can also be prepared as aqueous solutions. However, since aqueous solution polymerization processes typically produce polymer gels which are viscous and difficult to handle as fluids, these polymers are usually sold as dry powders which contain 85 to 98 percent by weight polymer solids or as dilute aqueous solutions containing less than 20 percent polymer solids.

Disadvantages are inherent in all of the polymer forms mentioned above. For example, inverted water-in-oil emulsions generally are lower in activity then powdered polymers, emulsification may deleteriously affect the performance characteristics of the polymer, and oil and surfactant requirements keep manufacturing costs high. Powdered polymers are costly to produce due to the drying and milling steps required, and these operational steps may also degrade polymer quality. Dilute aqueous solutions of water-soluble polymers, though easy to handle, are costly to transport due to their low active polymer content.

Accordingly, the need exists for a low-cost method of preparing anionic, cationic, non-ionic and amphoteric water-soluble polymer gels which can be easily and economically handled, and which have improved performance characteristics and high polymer concentrations. Such an invention would satisfy a long-felt need and constitute a notable advance in the art.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,113,688 and 4,358,550 describe processes for rapidly dissolving water-soluble polymer gels into water to form dilute aqueous solutions in a manner which minimizes degradation of the polymers' physical properties, comprising extruding, cutting and slurrying the polymers in water, followed by subjecting the slurry to high shear forces and the addition of more water. The processes of these references do not, however, produce high solids polymer gels which are easily handled and which can be stored for extended periods of time in free-flowing form. Moreover, these processes require either the use of expensive make-down equipment at the use site or transportation of dilute polymer solutions.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,871 discloses a method for reducing the adhesiveness of acrylamide-type polymers comprising adding polyethylene glycol to these polymers during manufacture, thereby allowing mincing and drying with minimum adhesion. Like references 4,113,688 and 4,358,550, reference 4,134,871 does not disclose a method for production of high solids polymer gels which can be easily handled and stored for long periods of time without agglomeration.

One aspect of this invention relates to a method for preparing free-flowing, water-soluble polymer gels. This method, aside from minimizing agglomeration of polymer gel particles, obviates the drying and milling steps required in other manufacturing processes, thereby lowering production costs while minimizing product degradation due to processing. The unique products made by the inventors' process are free-flowing, high molecular weight, cationic, anionic, non-ionic and amphoteric water-soluble polymer gels. These gels remain free-flowing and readily soluble after storage for extended periods of time. Also, these gels remain free-flowing after multiple freeze-thaw cycles and after storage at elevated temperatures.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a free-flowing polymer gel admixture comprising sized-reduced polymer gel particles and an amphipathic compound.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method for preparing free-flowing, water-soluble polymer gels comprising:

(a) reducing the size of high molecular weight, water-souble polymer gels by a size-reduction means, so as to produce polymer gel particles which are less than 1/2 inch in their longest dimension; and

(b) adding to the size-reduced, polymer gels of Step (a) 0.001 to 20 percent, by weight, of an amphipathic compound, thereby reducing the adhesion of said gel particles to themselves and other substances.

Size reduction may be accomplished by any comminution means, including but not limited to grinding, milling, triturating, levigating, rasping, slicing, cutting, extruding and flaking, which will produce polymer gel particles which are less than 1/2 inch in their longest dimension. Preferably, the size reduction means should produce polymer gel particles which are between 1/32 inch and 3/8 inch in their longest dimension. Most preferably, the size-reduction means should produce polymer gel particles which are uniform, discrete and which have particle diameters between 1/16 inch and 5/32 inch, the particle diameter being the longest dimension of a particular polymer gel particle.

The polymer gels of this invention may be cationic, anionic, non-ionic or amphoteric. Cationic polymer gels which can be used in this process include, but are not limited to, polymers made from dimethyldiallyl ammonium chloride (DMDAAC), diethyldiallylammonium chloride (DEDAAC), methacryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (METAC), acryloyoloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, methacryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium methosulfate (METAMS), acryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium methosulfate, and methacrylamido propyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (MAPTAC), alone or in combination, and polymers made by polymerizing the above-listed cationic monomers with acrylamide, methacrylamide or N,N-dimethylacrylamide. Anionic polymer gels which can be used in this process include, but are not limited to, polymers made from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, vinyl sulfonic acid, styrene sulfonate β-carboxy ethylacrylate and acrylamido methyl propane sulfonic acid, alone or in combination, and salts of these polymers, and polymers made by polymerizing the above-listed anionic monomers with acrylamide, methacrylamide, N,N-dimethylacrylamide and vinyl acetate and acrylonitrile, alone or in combination, and salts of these monomers. Non-ionic polymer gels which can be used inthis process include, but are not limited to, polymers made from acrylamide, methacrylamide and N,N-dimethylacrylamide, alone or in combination, which are hydrolyzed les than 1 percent by weight. Amphoteric polymer gels which can be used in this process include, but are not limited to, polymers made by polymerizing the above-listed anionic monomers with the above-listed cationic monomers, and especially polymers made from acrylic acid and methacryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride and polymers made from dimethyldiallylammonium chloride and acrylic acid.

The process disclosed herein is especially well suited for use with polymer gels which are produced from acrylic acid and acrylamide, or gels produced by hydrolyzing polyacrylamide. Also, the process is especially well suited for preparing free-flowing gels from polymers produced from acrylamide and METAMS, acrylamide and DMDAAC, and acrylamide and METAC.

Preferably, the cationic, anionic, non-ionic and amphoteric polymer gels which are suitable for this invention include those with molecular weights greater than 100,000, as determined by light scattering techniques, and those which contain 20 to 90 percent by weight polymer solids. Most preferably, the polymers used in the process disclosed by the inventor contain 40 to 70 percent by weight polymer solids.

The inventors have discovered that amphipathic compounds, when added to comminuted, high molecular weight, water-soluble anionic, cationic, non-ionic or amphoteric polymer gels, reduce adhesion between the gel particles themselves and other materials. As used herein, the term "amphipathic compound" refers to a compound which is surface-active or which has both hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties.

Generally, any anionic, cationic, non-ionic or amphoteric polymer gel may be treated with any amphipathic compound to reduce the adhesiveness of the gel. However, when the polymer gel treated in accordance with the process disclosed herein is cationic, anionic amphipathic compounds are preferred for preparation of free-flowing gels. When the polymer gel treated in accordance with the process described herein is anionic, cationic amphipathic compounds are preferred. When the gel to be treated is non-ionic, non-ionic or cationic amphipathic compounds are preferred to produce free-flowing, non-ionic polymer gels.

The cationic amphipathic compounds which are preferred as agents to reduce gel adhesiveness between anionic gel particles include quaternary ammonium compounds, quaternary imidazoline compounds, hydrogenated tallow quaternary ammonium compounds, imidazolines, fatty amine oxides, fatty amines and amine ethoxylates. The most preferred cationic amphipathic compounds are ditallow imidazolium quaternary compounds.

The anionic amphipathic compounds which are preferred as agents to reduce gel adhesion between cationic gel particles include phosphate esters, sulfonates, sulfosuccinates, alkyl phenyl phosphates and sulfated alkyl phenyl ethoxylates. The most preferred anionic amphipathic compound is a complex phosphate ester of alkyl alcohol ethoxylate.

The non-ionic amphipathic compounds preferred for use with the disclosed invention include polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters; ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymers, commonly sold under the BASF Wyandote tradename Pluronic, polyethylene oxide, polyethylene maleic anhydride and polypropylene oxides.

For polymer gels of acrylamide and METAMS, the preferred amphipathic compound is a complex phosphate ester of alkyl alcohol ethoxylate, commonly sold under the GAF tradename Gafac RS-410. For acrylic acid/acrylamide copolymers, made either by copolymerizing acrylic acid and acrylamide or by hydrolyzing polyacrylamide, the preferred amphipathic compound is a ditallow imidazolium quaternary compound, commonly sold under the Alkaril tradename of Alkaquat T.

The amphipathic compounds of this invention can be added to comminuted gel solids by any means which will ensure good mixing of the gel and the amphipathic compound. For example, tumble mixers or various types of commercial blenders are suitable for this task. The amphipathic compound should be added so as to produce coated gel particles which contain 0.001 percent to 20 percent of the amphipathic compound, by weight. Preferably, the amphipathic compound should be added so as to produce coated gel particles which contain 0.5 to 5.0 percent by weight of the amphipathic compound. It is also preferable to add the amphipathic compounds to freshly-comminuted polymer gels, so as to minimize the possibility of agglomeration prior to addition of the amphipathic compound.

Other processing steps may be performed in conjunction with the method disclosed herein without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, post-treatment polymerization steps, such as residual monomer reduction and/or hydrolysis, may be performed as required.

EXAMPLES

The following examples illustrate the present invention in greater detail. It should be understood that the invention is not in any way limited by these examples.

EXAMPLES 1 THROUGH 15 Flowability After One Day

Examples 1 through 15 show the effect of various amphipathic compounds on the flowability of acrylamide/METAMS, acrylamide/DMDAAC, hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, and polyacrylamide polymer gels. In Table I, the percent solids of each polymer gel is shown, as is the percent, by weight, of the amphipathic compound added to each gel. The column labeled "Results" shows visual observations made by the experimenters after one day. In all cases, the polymer gels were comminuted by grinding immediately prior to addition of the amphipathic compound. Grinding was carried out by cutting the polymer gel into strips and feeding it into a commercial meat grinder. Dye plate opening sizes for the grinder used ranged from 1/16 inch to 5/32 inch. After grinding, the resulting gel particles were tumbled in a mixer and the designated amphipathic compound was added. Each treated gel sample weighed 100 grams and was stored in a polyethylene bag under a 9-pound weight for one day. Storage under a weight tended to increase compaction. Three classifications were used to characterize the treated polymer gels: free-flowing, sticky and rubbery. Free-flowing means that no adhesion was apparent; sticky means that moderate adhesion was present; and rubbery means that substantial adhesion was present.

                                      TABLE I                                      __________________________________________________________________________                          Percent                                                                        Solids             Adhesion                               Example              (By weight                                                                           Amphipathic  Result                                 No.  Polymer Gel     of Gel)                                                                              Compound                                                                               Percent                                                                             (One Day)                              __________________________________________________________________________     1    70/30 Acrylamide/METAMS.sup.1                                                                  50    PEG 6000.sup.3                                                                         0.5  Free-Flowing                           2    70/30 Acrylamide/METAMS                                                                        50    Tween 40.sup.4                                                                         0.5  Sticky.sup.7                           3    70/30 Acrylamide/METAMS                                                                        50    Gafac RS410                                                                            0.5  Free-Flowing                           4    85/15 Acrylamide/METAMS                                                                        47.5  Gafac RS410                                                                            0.5  Free-Flowing                           5    70/30 Acrylamide/DMDAAC.sup.2                                                                  42.5  Gafac RS410                                                                            2.0  Free-Flowing                           6    70/30 Acrylamide/DMDAAC                                                                        42.5  Alkaquat T                                                                             2.0  Free-Flowing                           7    30% Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide                                                                  45    Pluronic F127.sup.5                                                                    2.0  Free-Flowing                           8    30% Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide                                                                  45    Alkaquat T                                                                             1.0  Free-Flowing                           9    30% Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide                                                                  45    Alkaquat T                                                                             2.0  Free-Flowing                           10   30% Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide                                                                  45    Hodag C-1000.sup.6                                                                     2.0  Free-Flowing                           11   Polyacrylamide  43    Pluronic P104                                                                          0.5  Free-Flowing                           12   Polyacrylamide  43    RS-410  2.0  Rubbery.sup.8                          13   Polyacrylamide  43    Pluronic F127                                                                          2.0  Free-Flowing                           14   Polyacrylamide  43    Hodag C-1000                                                                           2.0  Sticky.sup.9                           15   Polyacrylamide  43    Alkaquat T                                                                             2.0  Free-Flowing                           __________________________________________________________________________      .sup.1 METAMS = methacryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium methosulfate.          .sup.2 DMDAAC = dimethyldiallyl ammonium chloride.                             .sup.3 PEG 6000 = polyethylene glycol; 6000 molecular weight.                  .sup.4 Tween 40 = ethoxylated sorbitan ester, available from ICI Americas      Inc.                                                                           .sup.5 Puronic F127 = ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer,          available from BASF Wyandotte Corp.                                            .sup.6 Hodag C100-0 = fatty quaternary surfactant, available from Hodag.       .sup.7 In Example 2, a nonionic amphipathic compound was added to a            cationic polymer gel. At the 0.5% dosage level, stickiness resulted.           Higher amphipathic compound dosages result in a freeflowing product.           .sup.8 In Example 12, an anionic amphipathic compound was added to a           nonionic polymer gel. At the 2.0% dosage level, the product was rubbery.       Higher amphipathic compound dosages result in a freeflowing product.           .sup.9 In Example 14, a nonionic amphipathic compound was added to a           nonionic polymer gel. At the 2.0% dosage level, stickiness resulted.           Higher amphipathic compound dosages result in a freeflowing product.     

EXAMPLES 16 THROUGH 20 Flowability After Long-Term Storage

Examples 16 through 20 show the effect of long-term storage on polymer gels to which amphipathic compounds were added. The percentage by weight of the amphipathic compound added, the type of compound added, the length of the experiment, in months, and the adhesion results are shown for Examples 16 through 20 in Table II. The gels were prepared similarly to those of Examples 1 through 15. They were then packaged in polyethylene bags, which were placed in fiber drums for storage. The net weight of each drum was 50 pounds.

                                      TABLE II                                     __________________________________________________________________________                          Amphipathic                                                                    Compound                                                                       (Percent                                                  Example              By weight Time Adhesion                                   No.  Polymer Gel     of Gel)   (Months)                                                                            Result                                     __________________________________________________________________________     16   85/15 Acrylamide/METAMS.sup.1                                                                  Gafac RS-410 (.5)                                                                        6    Free-Flowing                               17   70/30 Acrylamide/METAMS                                                                        Gafac RS-410 (.5)                                                                        2    Free-Flowing                               18   70/30 Acrylamide/DMDAAC.sup.2                                                                  Gafac RS-410 (2.0)                                                                       1    Free-Flowing                               19   30% Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide                                                                  Alkaquat T (4.0)                                                                         1    Free-Flowing                               20   Polyacrylamide  Alkaquat T (4.0)                                                                         1    Free-Flowing                               __________________________________________________________________________      .sup.1 METAMS = methacryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium methosulfate           .sup.2 DMDAAC = dimethyldiallyl ammonium chloride                        

EXAMPLES 21 THROUGH 24 Dilution Tests After Storage

Examples 21 through 24 show the results of dilution tests after storage. These tests measured viscosity as an indicator of solubility. Thus, when the viscosity measurement for a sample leveled, the polymer was solubilized. The dilution tests were conducted on gel samples which had been stored for 1 to 2 months.

The dilution tests were conducted by adding 2000 grams of deionized water to a one-gallon container. The container was equipped with a pitched-blade (6 blades), 3-inch diameter agitator. The agitator blades were located 1.5 inches from the bottom of the container, and the agitator motor was a variable speed type, ranging from 400 to 1200 rpm. While agitating the deionized water at 800 rpm, either 20 or 40 grams of the polymer gel being tested were added to the deionized water, depending on the desired concentration. The polymer gel was added over a 2- to 4-minute time interval.

After agitating the polymer solution for 15 minutes, an additional 2000 grams of deionized water were added. Samples were then withdrawn every 30 minutes, and viscosities were measured using a Brookfield Model LVT Viscometer with a No. 1 or No. 2 spindle at 6 rpm. When viscosity measurements leveled, the gel solution was poured through a 20 mesh screen to measure its gel content.

Finally, the capillary viscosity (i.e. the reduced specific viscosity) of the gel solution was measured. The final gel solutions contained 0.05 or 0.025 percent, by weight, polymer in a 1-molar sodium chloride solution. Reduced specific viscosity is a measure of product quality.

Table III below shows viscosity vs. time readings for each gel tested, the amphipathic compound used, the time period each gel was stored prior to testing, the gel solids percentages and the reduced viscosities.

                                      TABLE III                                    __________________________________________________________________________                                                Reduced                                                   Time           Brookfield                                                                           Viscosity                           Example               Stored                                                                              Percent                                                                             Time Viscosity                                                                            n.sub..05                           No.  Polymer & Amphipathic Compound                                                                  (Months)                                                                            Solids                                                                              (Hours)                                                                             (cps) (dl/g)                              __________________________________________________________________________     21   Polyacrylamide Gel Stabilized                                                                   1.0  45   .5   255   --                                       with Alkaquat T            1.0  320   --                                                                  1.5  355   --                                                                  2.0  355   14.5                                Screened H.sub.2 O-Swollen Gels: 11.67 g from 44 g gel in 4000 g of DI         H.sub.2 O. = 0.3%                                                              22   10% Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide                                                                   1.0  45   0.5  3600  --                                       Stabilized with Alkaquat T 1.0  3675  --                                                                  1.5  3500  24.5                                Screened H.sub.2 O-Swollen Gels: 1.7 g from 44 g gel in 4000 g DI H.sub.2      O. = 0.04%                                                                     23   36% Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide                                                                   1.0  45   0.5  1875  --                                       Stabilized with Alkaquat T 1.0  2125  --                                                                  1.5  2225  --                                                                  2.0  2250  23.6                                Screened H.sub.2 O-Swollen Gels: 11.2 g from 21.3 g gel in 4000 g DI           H.sub.2 O. = 0.5%                                                              24   70/30 Acrylamide/METAMS                                                                         2.0  50   0.5  475   --                                       Stabilized with Gafac RS-410                                                                              1.0  960   --                                                                  1.5  1125  --                                                                  2.0  1050  14.0                                __________________________________________________________________________      No Gels On Screen                                                        

The viscosity vs. time information shown above indicates that, after storage for prolonged periods of time, the gels remained readily soluble in water. The low percentages of gels that remained undissolved indicate that no detrimental effects on the polymer gels occurred during storage (i.e. particle adhesion or crosslinking). The high reduced viscosities also indicated that the diluted products were of excellent quality.

EXAMPLES 25 THROUGH 29 Freeze-Thaw Effects On Adhesion

Examples 25 through 29 show the results of freeze-thaw tests conducted on the polymers of Examples 16 through 20. These tests were conducted by placing 25 pounds of each polymer gel in a polyethylene bag, and placing the bag in a freezer at -10° C. overnight. After bringing the polymer gel to room temperature the following day, the cycle was repeated two more times. The gel was examined for adhesion and dilution as listed above. Results of the freeze-thaw test are shown below in Table IV.

                  TABLE IV                                                         ______________________________________                                                   Polymer/          Adhesion                                                     Amphipathic       After                                              Test      Compound          3 Cycles                                           ______________________________________                                         Example 25                                                                               85/15             free-flowing                                                 acrylamide/METAMS                                                              with Gafac HS-410                                                    Example 26                                                                               70/30             free-flowing                                                 acrylamide/METAMS                                                              with Gafac RS-410                                                    Example 27                                                                               70/30             free-flowing                                                 acrylamide/DMDAAC                                                              with Gafac RS-410                                                    Example 28                                                                               30% hydrolyzed    free-flowing                                                 polyacrylamide                                                                 with Alkaquat T                                                      Example 29                                                                               polyacrylamide    free-flowing                                                 with Alkaquat T                                                      ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLES 30 THROUGH 34 High Temperature Effects On Adhesion

Examples 30 through 34 show the effects of elevated temperatures on the polymers of Examples 16 through 20. In these tests, 25 pounds of each polymer gel were placed in a polyethylene bag, which was placed in an oven at 50° C. for 3 days. Results of these tests are shown below in Table V.

                  TABLE V                                                          ______________________________________                                                   Polymer/          Adhesion                                                     Amphipathic       After                                              Test      Compound          3 Cycles                                           ______________________________________                                         Example 30                                                                               85/15             free-flowing                                                 acrylamide/METAMS                                                              with Gafac RS-410                                                    Example 31                                                                               70/30             free-flowing                                                 acrylamide/METAMS                                                              with Gafac RS-410                                                    Example 32                                                                               70/30             free-flowing                                                 acrylamide/DMDAAC                                                              with Gafac RS-410                                                    Example 33                                                                               30% hydrolyzed    free-flowing                                                 polyacrylamide                                                                 with Alkaquat T                                                      Example 34                                                                               polyacrylamide    sticky                                                       with Alkaquat T                                                      ______________________________________                                     

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for preparing free-flowing, discrete water-soluble polymer gel particles, wherein said method consists essentially of:(a) reducing the size of a non-ionic water-soluble polymer gel selected from the group consisting of polymer gels made from acrylamide, methacrylamide, N,N-dimethyl acrylamide, or combinations thereof, wherein said polymer gel is hydrolyzed less than 1 percent by weight or is unhydrolyzed, by a size-reduction means, so as to produce discrete polymer gel particles which are less than 1/2 inch in their longest dimension; and (b) adding to the size-reduced discrete polymer gel particles of step (a) 0.001 to 20 weight percent of an amphipathic compound selected from the group consisting of cationic amphipathic compounds selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium compounds, imidazolines, fatty amino oxides, fatty amines and amine ethoxylates; and non-ionic amphipathic compounds selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters and ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymers, thereby reducing the adhesion of said discrete gel particles to themselves and other substances, wherein said weight percent is based on the total weight of said discrete polymer gel particles and said amphipathic compound.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said non-ionic water-soluble polymer gel of Step (a) contains from 20 to 90 percent by weight polymer solids and 10 to 80 percent water.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said polymer gel of step (a) contains from 40 to 70 percent by weight polymer solids and 30 to 60 percent by weight water and wherein the molecular weight of said polymer gel is greater than 100,000, as determined by light scattering techniques.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein 0.5 to 20 weight percent of said amphipathic compound is added.
 5. A free-flowing admixture of discrete water-soluble polymer gel particles consisting essentially of:(a) size-reduced, discrete non-ionic water-soluble polymer gel particles selected from the group consisting of polymer gel particles made from acrylamide, methacrylamide, N,N-dimethyl acrylamide or combinations thereof, wherein said polymer gel particles are hydrolyzed less than 1 percent by weight or are unhydrolyzed, and wherein said polymer gel particles are less than 1/2 inch in their longest dimension; and (b) 0.001 to 20 weight percent of an amphipathic compound selected from the group consisting of cationic amphipathic compounds selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium compounds, imidazolines fatty amino oxides, fatty amines and amine ethoxylates; and non-ionic amphipathic compounds selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters and ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymers, wherein said weight percent is based on the total weight of said discrete polymer gel particles and said amphipathic compound.
 6. The admixture of claim 5, wherein said discrete non-ionic water-soluble polymer gel particles contain from 20 to 90 percent, by weight, polymer solids and 10 to 80 percent, by weight, water.
 7. The admixture of claim 5, wherein said discrete non-ionic water-soluble polymer gel particles contain from 40 to 70 percent, by weight, polymer solids and 30 to 60 percent, by weight, water, wherein the molecular weight of said discrete non-ionic water-soluble polymer gel particles is greater than 100,000, as determined by light scattering techniques, and wherein 0.5 to 20 weight percent of said amphipathic compound is present, based on the total weight of (a) plus (b).
 8. Free-flowing, discrete water-soluble polymer gel particles made by steps consisting essentially of:(a) reducing the size of a non-ionic water-soluble polymer gel selected from the group consisting of polymer gels made from acrylamide, methacrylamide, N,N-dimethyl acrylamide or combinations thereof, wherein said polymer gel is hydrolyzed less than 1 percent by weight or is unhydrolyzed, by a size-reduction means, so as to produce discrete polymer gel particles which are less than 1/2 inch in their longest dimension; and (b) adding to the size-reduced discrete polymer gel particles of step (a) 0.001 to 20 weight percent of an amphipathic compound selected from the group consisting of cationic amphipathic compounds selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium compounds, imidazolines, fatty amino oxides, fatty amines and amine ethoxylates; and non-ionic amphipathic compounds selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters and ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymers, thereby reducing the adhesion of said gel particles to themselves and other substances, wherein said weight percent is based on the total weight of said discrete polymer gel particles and said amphipathic compound.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is selecte d from the group consisting of quaternary imidazoline compounds and hydrogenated tallow quaternary ammonium compounds.
 10. The admixture of claim 5, wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is selected from the group consisting of quaternary imidazoline compounds and hydrogenated tallow quaternary ammonium compounds.
 11. The polymer gel particles of claim 8, wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is selected from the group consisting of quaternary imidazoline compounds and hydrogenated tallow quaternary ammonium compounds. 